Toshiba Libretto 50CT not booting anymore

[MAZter]

Hello friends, just got Toshiba Libretto 50CT with booting problem, same as explained here

It tries to recover from hibernation, then locks up after the little graphic routine finishes (showed black screen), anything I can do to fix it?

 

[finkmac]

pull the CMOS battery? pull the HDD?

 

[NeXT]

Yeah it sounds like it's stuck thinking it's in hibernation or the hibernation file is corrupt.

 

[modem7]

Although different symptoms, the hibernation related information from Toshiba at [here] suggests that a first step for you might be to remove AC power, the main battery, then the RTC battery.

 

[MAZter]

Although different symptoms, the hibernation related information from Toshiba at [here] suggests that a first step for you might be to remove AC power, the main battery, then the RTC battery.

This is interesting, thank you for share document.

I already tried to remove RTC battery (the connector of which is green, so it should have no effect at all).

The main battery has not been installed all this time either.

When I try to install a hard drive from Japanese Libretto laptop 50 notebook, when I turn 50CT on, I hear two or three beeps and a black screen. So replacing hdd does not help.

Yeah it sounds like it's stuck thinking it's in hibernation or the hibernation file is corrupt.

Thank you, as I read before, Libretto 50CT use partition and not file. When I connect HDD via USB adapter I don't see any hibernation files in the root directory.

pull the CMOS battery? pull the HDD?

Did not tried without HDD yet. Thanks for reply!

I will try to let it sit without any batteries for a longer period.

 

[MAZter]

I successfully fixed the problem by trying to replace the hard drive with the original Japanese model, which had saved hibernation data without crashing during a normal DOS game.

Replacing with a random hard drive, disconnecting the batteries for 24 hours, etc. did not help, there was no way to enter the BIOS or do anything. Very strange.

After replacing broken screen (which really took only 30 minutes), I have two completed 50CT Japanese and American Librettos.

 

[syntax error]

It would be interesting to know if there is some part that's failing in these hard drives. Tantilum caps or something? There seems to be a far higher rate of failure with these drives as they've aged.

Mine ran for about 2 hours after I got it and failed without warning. No clicking or other strange noises. The OS froze up and it was game over. It was not a high hour computer either. I even got all the original boxes and manuals with it. The original owner said it was pretty much bought for a presentation at a conference and was only lightly used after that. One day I'm going to see if I can get mine going again.

I ended up going with a 256MB CF card and an adaptor. At least the CF install is pretty much painless.